MC kickers swept by Friends

WICHITA — McPherson College’s men’s soccer defense sprang a leak on Wednesday against Friends, leading to the Bulldogs’ first KCAC loss of the season.

Friends doubled up the Bulldogs, 4-2.

Mac is now 2-1 in the conference and hosts much-improved Bethel on Saturday. Match time is 3:00.

The Bulldogs are 3-5 overall.

It was a wild first half as both teams executed on the offensive end. Erik Espinoza gave Mac a brief 1-0 lead on a goal assisted by Chris Kelly. After Friends scored two goals for a 2-1 lead, Kelly tied it with 5 minutes left in the first half, but the Falcons came right back 2 minutes later and led 3-2 at the half.

The Falcons scored in the game’s 73rd minute for insurance.

Friends had an 11-9 advantage in shots and a decided 10-4 edge in corner kicks.

• FRIENDS WOMEN 2, MAC 0 — Friends dominated the game for the most part, taking 16 shots to 7 for the Bulldogs.

The Falcons stunned Mac with a goal just 40 seconds into the game. The other goal came in the second half.

The loss drops the Bulldogs to 1-2 in the KCAC, 4-4 overall.

“Tonight was a typical match with Friends," Mac coach Mark Olson said. "It was very physical, back-and-forth, and unfortunately they scored on two highlight-type goals from distance. It's important that our players take away the positives in tonight's game so we can build for the future."

Mac hosts Bethel at 12:30 Saturday. The game will be on the stadium pitch instead of The Kennel due to recent rains.